“And
they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in
breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every
soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And
all that believed were together, and had all things common; And
sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men,
as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one
accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat
with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having
favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as
should be saved”(Acts 2:42-47).

Recently, a good friend
asked me if the first Christians were Communists. He said, “The way they lived
seems like Communism to me.”

If we only consider the
fact that the first Christians had all things in common, we might think that
true Christianity is like Communism. But that is not the case. And we would have
to define the meaning of true Christianity.

Notice that the early
Church continued stedfastly in the Apostles’ doctrine and fellowship. Communism
doesn’t follow the Apostles’ doctrine. The Apostles’ doctrine says Jesus was the
Virgin Born Son of God, He died on a cross for the sins of the world, He is the
only way to be saved, He is coming back to rule the world, and things like that.
Communism doesn’t declare these things.

Notice that the early
Church continued stedfastly in the breaking of bread and in prayers. Communism
doesn’t do that. Many Communists are atheists and prayer is never part of their
lifestyle or something that continue in stedfastly.

Notice that the early
Church praised God and had favour with all the people.

Communism has a history of
rejecting God and persecuting Christians and Jews.

Concerning the early Church
and Christians having all things in common, it was something they chose to do.
Communism forces its will on people. The early Christians said, “Everything I
have belongs to God.” But Communism says, “Everything you have belongs to the
government.” The early Christians believed in giving. But Communism believes in
taking. The Christian doctrine of giving is tithes and offerings not everything
we have taken away from us.

I understand why my good
friend asked the question, but there is a big difference between Christianity
and Communism.